Preserving New England's architectural legacy for future generations
(802) 793-2071 | VT, NH, METhe decision to choose historic preservation and restoration over conventional repair is no small commitment. Many of our clients have expressed despair in their struggle to find guidance in making informed decisions about the preservation and restoration process. The terminology of historic preservation is often used casually by contractors and homeowners alike. Frequently, the term ‘restoration’ is used to describe work that may actually be conventional repair or renovation. Unfortunately for us, we have to compete in an environment where the nuances of our trade are often enigmatic to homeowners. As a result, clients often defer to the advice of contractors who may not be well versed in historic architecture or craftsmanship. Potential stewards of historic structures are often misinformed and choose less expensive conventional repair techniques with the belief that these methods actually constitute proper historic preservation. There is little in the way of official guidelines or regulation for historic preservation and restoration professionals beyond those set forth by the US Secretary of the Interior. The SEI standards are broad, subjective and often only given a nod where grant funding is involved. Numerous contractors have made their careers cutting off tenons and adding metal plates under the guise of historic preservation. These practices may serve to stabilize a structure in the short term, but often destroy historic details and inevitably shift a greater burden to future generations. Knobb Hill Joinery has always approached restorative joinery with future generations in mind. Outlined in this area of the web site are some of the approaches that we feel separate Knobb Hill from our competitors.